Thursday, December 16, 2010

How I CAME TO WRITE THIS BOOK: Charles Allen Gramlich



How I Came to Write This Book:

Swords of Talera

When I first started writing, I honestly never gave any thought to publishing or making money from my writing. I grew up loving to read, and my favorite type of book was adventure fiction written by authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Alan Burt Akers (Ken Bulmer), and Robert E. Howard. I could never get enough, and when I wasn’t reading I was often imagining my own stories, set on my own versions of the planets of Barsoom, Kregen and Almuric. Eventually, my fantasy world came to be called Talera.

I hear my author friends talking sometimes about writing “the book of their heart.” Often, these are published authors who are waiting for the right time to write the book that is closest to them emotionally. Swords of Talera I was the book of my heart. I wrote it because I couldn’t get the characters and setting out of my mind. I wrote the first draft as fast as my pen could move across the paper. I was in graduate school at the time, and though I had a lot to do I stayed up late every night to write. I wrote anytime I had a moment’s break from work; I wrote the whole time I was home for Thanksgiving break. I loved every minute of it. I guess you could say I wrote it because of how much fun it was. Swords of Talera was truly a labor of love.

Charles Gramlich is a professor of psychology. Aside from the Talera series, he has written several other novels, poetry, a chapbook, and a book on writing, Write with Fire. You can find him here.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoy stories of authors whose works spring full-blown from the heart, and almost write themselves. I've never experienced that. I wish Mr. Gramlich great success.

Anonymous said...

Patti - Thanks for hosting Charles.

Charles - Thanks for sharing your story. I know exactly what you mean about the characters staying with you and not letting you rest 'till you'd written their stories. That's how my characters are, too.

Dorte H said...

"I guess you could say I wrote it because of how much fun it was."

That is one of the best reasons in my opinion. On the whole I am also fortunate enough to write because it is fun. Especially my first English cosy.

Travis Erwin said...

If you are gonna labor over something, you might as well love it. By the way I loved it too.

Nik Morton said...

Hit the nail on the head, Charles. You've got to enjoy what you write if you want readers to enjoy it too.

I lived with Sister Rose in my head for over ten years before she got published. My wife didn't mind...
Nik Morton

Richard R. said...

I have it, and the other two in the trilogy, and am eager to get them unpacked and read them!

Charles Gramlich said...

Thanks everyone! And thanks Patty for hosting his great series. I've been really enjoying it.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Nice to have you on here, Charles. Thanks!

Evan Lewis said...

While reading this one, Charles, it was easy to tell you were having fun.

Angie said...

Hey, 99.999% of us don't get rich doing this, so we'd better be enjoying the work. :) That's the best kind of book, when it all just flows and you can't think of anything you'd rather do besides write. [nod]

Angie